Marine way



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J. E. STAPLES.

MARINE WAY. No. 334,094. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

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Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

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MARINE WAY.

No. 384,094. Patented Jan. 12, 1886.

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JOHN E. STAPLES,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF YORK, MAINE.

MARINE WAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 334,094, dated January 12, 1886.

Application filed November 27, 1885. Serial No. 184,043. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. STAPLES, of York, in the county of York and State of Maine, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Marine Ways, adapting the same for use inlaunching boats through or over the surf, and also to bathing purposes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, being taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention in one of its forms. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cradle. Fig. 3 is a rear end view showing clearly the mode of mounting it upon the track. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of my device. Fig. 5 is aplan view of a modified form of the cradle. Fig. 6 illustrates the means for changing the elevation of the cradle. Fig. 7 is a View of details of the cradle. Fig. 8 is a perspective of the cradle and means for placing a boat in it or removing it. Fig. 9 is a view of one of the hollow wheels. The object of my invention is to provide means for safely launching small boats through ,or over the surf upon the sea-shore, and to adapt the same also to the use of bathers, whereby they may practice that recreation with great convenience and absolute safety, and the unskilled may be aided in acquiring the art of swimming; and the invention consists of a crib or cradle, substantially as hereinafter set forth, to travel up and down a natural or artificial way upon the sea-shore, means being provided to propel the same, and also to anchor orholditin any desired position. The said cradle is also provided with means for its adjustment at an elevated or lower position, to traverse its course either above the surf to reach the comparatively still water beyond,or, by adjustment in a lower position,to traverse through the surf or occupy a position in the roll of the surf. The former adjustment is best adapted to the transfer of boats, and the latter would be most preferred by bathers.

My present invention will be found to embody improvements upon the invention cov- 50 ered by the patent granted me July 7, 1885,

No. 321,916. Referring to the drawings, A, Fig. 1, indicates an inclined way more or less elevated upon piers w, the same being provided with a suitable track, a, adapted to permit a crib or cradle, b, to be easily traversed back and forth upon it. The said inclined way preferably extends from a point above the highest average roll of the surf down beyond low-water mark, in order to be of use at all stages of tide. The cradle 11 is constructed of a strong frame-work of timber, comprising bottom and side walls of open-work, and of substantially the form shown, the upper end being closed, and the side or sides being provided with an opening, 0, sufficient to admit a person. The cradle is mounted upon suitable flanged wheels, d, adapted to the track, and is also provided with safety arms or lugs e, projecting from brackets f, depending from the lower portion of the cradle, such arms engaging with an undercut portion, 9, of the track, so preventing possible derailment of the cradle. The best form of this arrangement is that shown in Fig. 1, in which small flanged wheels mare mounted upon the depending brackets, and engage an under tread of the rails. The eradle is traversed by an endless chain or cable, h, rove around a sheave,.i, at the lower end of the track, and around a drum or Windlass, k, at the upper end.

The foregoing is substantially that portion of the invention which is covered by my former patent above referred to.

My present improvements consist in covering the bottom of the cradle with a comparatively fine open-work of netting or slatting, Z, sufficiently open to permit free circulation of the water, and yet close enough to afford a safe and comfortable flooring for the bare feet of bathers. This may be of wire or rope netting, or of closely-arranged slats of wood or other material adapted to the purpose. The lower open end of the cradle is also closed by a gate or barrier, m, of similar open-work, and may be of similar netting or slatting. I have shown in Fig. 3 such gate in place, being held fast by suitable hooks or buttons fast in the wood-work. In Fig. 8 the said gate, in the form of a flexible netting, is shown partially removed. Similar nettings or gates close the openings in the sides.

When the oradleis to be used for bathing purposes alone, thelower end may be made closed,

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and either square or the same in figure as the upper end, as shown in Fig. 5; and both track and cradle will be made of greater width and capacity generally, and the track mounted at a lower elevation, for reasons above stated. For such purpose and use, also, I may provide upon and outside the upper margin of the walls of the cradle a gallery or walk z, where bathers may sit on coming out of the water, access thereto being provided by a ladder or steps, 0. It may also serve as a standing-place for the attendant in charge of the cradle. A notable use to which this form of my invention may be put is that of teaching the young or the unskilled in the art of swimming, it being possible to adjust the cradle toany desired depth of water; and with this in view I have provided removable arch-bars 19, resting in sockets q, secured to the walls of the cradle, from which bars depend ropes r, with hand-holds 8 within easy reach of the pupils.

Some beaches upon the Atlantic coast (notably The Long Sands and The Short Sands of York, Maine) are characterized by a very firm gray sand, so evenly and solidly deposited by the action of the water that even heavy teams may be driven upon it with scarcely a perceptible indentation. In such situations the artificial track may be dispensed with, the cradle being provided with plain broad-tired wheels t, Figs. 6 and 8, and the outer sheave, 2', around which the chain or cable is rove, being secured to a pile, a, or anchor fixed out beyond low-water mark; or, in lieu of the natural sand floor, a plane way of plank or smooth stone may be laid down.

A material aid in working the cradle is obtained by making the broad wheels hollow, as shown in Fig. 9, the buoyancy of the said wheels counteracting in a measure the weight of the cradle.

To serve the purpose of launching boats through or over the surf, it is evident that the cradle must be kept steady upon its track and be practically unaffected by the run of the surf. This is effected, in part, by the small wheels underrunning the track; but it is also necessary that the operating-cable should be kept taut all the way from the windlass to the lower sheave. The effect of this taut cable will be to prevent heaving of the cradle and its drifting and swinging by the ordinary run of the surf; and for the purpose of adjusting the cable so that it shall always be taut in use I introduce the turn-buckle z.

The steadiness of the cradle in its position is also preferable to the class of bathers who would most use the device.

It will be observed that the adaptation of the device to bathing purposes does not, in the case of the open lower-ended cradle, diminish its capability of conveniently transferring boats through or over the surf, the open-work flooring rather improving its use for this purpose by aiding persons in obtaining convenient access to the contained boat.

I have also shown in Fig. 8 a derrick as a convenient means for placing the boats in the cradle or taking them out. An elevated platform (not shown) will afford easy entrance to and exit from the cradle, and serve as a landing from which to handle the boats.

As a convenient means for changing the ill titude of the cradle upon its wheels to adapt it to bear its load, either over the surf to the smooth water beyond or into or through the surf, I employ the offset axles 12. Upon the offset part a the frame-work of the cradle is directly mounted, one of the transverse beams of it being secured directly to said offset part by Lj-shaped clips and nuts, or by any suitable means. The attendants being provided with suitable lifting-jacks, it will be but the work of a few moments to disconnect the clips, change the position of the axle, and replace the cradle in the changed elevation. The change in elevation might also be effected by a simple change from small wheels to large, or the reverse. In cases where this apparatus is built on a large scale and the gallery is given I some breadth, light bathing-closets for robing and disrobing purposes may be constructed upon it.

My invention may be equally applied upon the shores of lakes or rivers, the absolute security from danger which it affords rendering it desirable even in still waters; but in the security afforded at open sea-beaches, where often a strong under-tow exists, it is of special value. The protection also from public gaze which it affords to the bathers will make it desirable to many.

The device renders bathing a thoroughly clean enjoyment by its freedom from sand,

mud, and the like upon the person.

I am aware that a floating raft for bathing purposes exclusively, inclosed by netting, adapted to be run up and down the beach a short distance by slack fastenings, and designed at waist-depth, or less, to float, with freedom to sway back and forth by the action of the sea, has been devised, and I lay no claim to such device.

My object is to produce a cradle primarily for boating purposes, but adapted also to bathing uses, non-floatable, and heavy enough to keep its place upon its track in the ordinary roll of the surf, or, if short. in weight IIO for that purpose, well anchored down by taut fastenings, so that it shall not drift or swing by the run of thewaves.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the cradle or ear made of open-work at its sides and bottom, and provided with a floor of fine open-work, of adjustable means for propelling it along the beach, and for firmly anchoring it as against drifting or swinging by the run of the surf, as set forth.

2. The cradle or car made of open-work at its sides and bottom, being open at its rear end, and provided with a gate or gates of fine open-work, combined with taut anchoring and propelling cables, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a'traek, of the car or cradle and means whereby its elevation above the said track may be changed, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination, with the car and its inclined marine way, of the offset axles, whereby said car may be adjusted by means of said axles to a higher or lower elevation.

5. A non-floatable car or cradle for bathing purposes, adapted to roll upon the natural surface of the sea-beach, in combination with taut means to propel it up and down the same and anchor it as against drifting or swinging by the run of the waves, substantially as set forth.

6. A car or cradle provided with hollow Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. HACHETT, FRANK E. MASON. 

